CAMP PATRIOT, KUWAIT

09.11.2011

Courtesy Story

CAMP PATRIOT, Kuwait - Ten years ago the world changed. Last night I watched a video timeline of the events from September 11, 2001. It was the first time I fully relived the events that unfolded before my eyes 10 years ago. I was just starting my sophomore year at Saint Peter High School in Minnesota. Commons (study hall) was my first period class. I walked into the lunch room and took my seat for attendance. The TV was on, a fairly rare occurrence. I didn’t know it at the time, but 10 minutes before the school day started the first reports of a plane hitting the World Trade Center had begun.

I started watching the reports after attendance was taken. “How does a plane hit a tower?” I thought to myself. Several other students had gathered around the TV as the second plane hit. “What is going on?” Reports of the terrorist plot and hijackings started. The rest of the day was spent watching the news and witnessing the events as they unfolded. I remember my step-father telling me, “This is serious.” I didn’t know it would be so serious that we’d be battling with it for 10 years.

Ten years ago I would have never guessed that I would be serving with the Minnesota National Guard in Kuwait. On the 10th anniversary of the worst attack on U.S. soil, that is exactly what I am doing. The day here at Camp Patriot started with a 5K remembrance run. Hundreds of troops from the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, and Canadian army lined up on the road at 6am to participate. Everyone out there was directly affected by the attacks 10 years ago.

As I ran this morning, watching the desert sun rise in the sky, I thought of the fallen Americans from the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and Flight 93. They are not able to watch a sunrise, go for a run, or be with loved ones. Fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, and children were stolen from their families forever. Men and women have made the ultimate sacrifice fighting against those responsible for the attacks.

We all have our own problems, but we are lucky enough to struggle through them. We are separated from our families while deployed, but we are lucky enough to be able to talk to our loved ones. Whatever you may do today, take a moment to reflect and remember what happened 10 years ago. Today, we live and fight for all those lost. Today, we remember. Always remember, never forget. God bless America.